The menace of Digital Arrest has claimed another victim in the State capital’s Kolar area. A 72-year-old retired employee of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board (MPEB) was kept under virtual captivity for three days by cyber-criminals posing as CBI officers. The fraudsters successfully extorted Rs 3 lakh from the elderly man by accusing him of money laundering. Following a formal complaint, the Kolar Police have registered an FIR against unidentified suspects. The victim, Jagannath Rathore, a resident of Shirdipuram Colony on Kolar Road, stated that the ordeal began three days ago with an unsolicited call.

 

The caller alleged that his mobile SIM card had been used in a high-profile financial scam. Shortly after, Rathore received a WhatsApp video call from an individual dressed in attire resembling a law enforcement official, who identified himself as a Sub-Inspector from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The fraudsters convinced the elderly victim that he was under Digital Arrest. They issued a strict ultimatum: if he contacted family members or the local police, he would be summarily arrested and jailed.

 

To maintain absolute control, the scammers kept Rathore under constant surveillance via continuous video calls and messages for 72 hours, subjecting him to extreme mental pressure and isolation. On January 8, after breaking the victim’s resolve through fear, the scammers provided a Government Clearance Account number.They claimed that the money was required to verify his funds and clear his name from the investigation.

 

Terrified, Rathore went to his bank and transferred Rs 3 lakh via RTGS. It was only after the scammers demanded more money that the victim realised he had been duped and approached the Kolar Police Station on Thursday night. Kolar SHO Sanjay Soni confirmed that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act. “We are tracing the digital footprint of the WhatsApp numbers and investigating the bank account where the funds were moved. We reiterate that there is no legal provision for ‘Digital Arrest’ in India. If any official asks you to stay on a video call under threat of arrest, it is a scam,” he stated.